Nevada has some great genetics, and on good moisture years, it can really produce some great bucks—especially in the southeast portion of the state. Southeastern Nevada is the most popular area of the state when it comes to trophy class bucks. These units typically have lower tag numbers, great genetics, and thick enough cover for bucks to grow old. If these areas get great moisture, you can expect great deer. This winter, most of the state is looking close to average, the exception being the better deer areas in the southeastern portion of the state which have been really dry. Hopefully Nevada will receive more moisture and allow for a normal horn growth year, but drought conditions will more than likely persist in the southeastern portion of the state.
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The units in Northern and Central Nevada have been getting more moisture and will be producing some bigger bucks this year. These units are starting to produce older age-class bucks due to the low tag numbers most of these units have had for a number of years. Most of these units will offer opportunities at 150 to 170” bucks. One thing to remember about Nevada is that every unit in the state has the potential to produce a 180” buck. If you are only looking for a 180” buck, you should stick to our top picks unless you have inside information on where a big buck is.
The Nevada deer population is way down but is slowly rebounding. Nevada has been taking steps to try to turn their deer herd around. They cut all antlerless deer tags in 2024 and changed the resident youth deer tags to antlered only. They also cut tags to allow some bucks to gain some age class. As deer population numbers improve, Nevada has been slowly raising the tag numbers back up. Just imagine how great the mule deer population could be if they could just figure out how to remove most of the feral horses in Nevada. The truth is that the feral horse population is one of the biggest obstacles to Nevada developing a robust deer population.
For specific units, seasons, and dates please consult the regulations.
Nevada has one of the earliest archery seasons in the West. It’s a great time to be chasing velvet bucks. Most units’ seasons start out with a month-long archery hunt and begins August 10 followed by a three-week muzzleloader season that runs into October. Several units have split rifle hunts into two two-week seasons: early and late. Most of the northwest units have an extended, month-long seasons from October 5 to November 5 to allow hunters more opportunity to harvest in units that have lower deer densities. Units 101 through 109 and 171 though 173 have three different rifle seasons. There are quite a few other units that offer extended seasons that allows for some premium hunt dates for weapons. The wide variety of hunts offered during different times of the year provides plenty of opportunities to fit a hunt into your schedule.
Nevada’s deer population, like all other states, is tied to suitable habitat. With the size of the state, it’s understandable that deer densities are not as high as other western states. Even in Nevada’s top units, mature bucks can be difficult to find, so prepare for a long hunt regardless of the trophy potential of your unit. On a more positive note, the tag cuts that took place in the last handful of years have allowed more bucks to reach an older age class. Hunter success has been trending up in almost all areas in Nevada, and better bucks are being taken.
If you draw a tag and want to talk about doing the hunt yourself or want help choosing an outfitter, give us a call. We work with the best deer outfitters in Nevada.
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The Nevada application deadline is May 13, 2026 at 11:00 p.m. (PDT).
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Up-Front Fees |
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| Hunt/Fish Combo License (365-day license) | $156 |
| Youth Hunt/Fish Combo License (365-day license) | $16 |
| Application Fee (all species except elk) | $14 |
| Silver State Tag Application Fee (all species except elk) | $24 |
| PIW Application Fee | $11 |
| Bonus Point Only Fee | $11 |
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| Deer (regular draw tag) | $241 |
Nevada Mule Deer Hunting Articles from Huntin' Fool Magazine
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